The get together for PRAYER FRIENDS and CHILDREN is after the 10.30am MASS on SUNDAY 5th FEBRUARY in the PARISH CENTRE.

Charity Race Night in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Trust. In memory of Fiona Hague, parishioner of English Martyrs.

To be held at St Michaels Hall, Hayling Rise, Worthing with Licensed Bar and Raffle On Saturday 18 th February 2012 at 7.30pm. Price £5 adults with children free.

Tickets are to be purchased in advance from Cecily 01903 527209 or Emily 07432 681 362

The Education Sunday 10.30am Mass will be led by our School and there will be a special blessing for all involved in Education at all Masses.

 The 10.00am Mass on Saturday 11th February 2012 (The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes) will include the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Anyone who is suffering from a serious illness is welcome to attend and be anointed during the Mass. If you intend to be anointed please let any of the sacristans know in good time – preferably by 4th February.

To express the cosmopolitan nature of our parish we invite all members of our parish to attend the 10.30am Mass on 12th February. We would like to display national flags and/or symbols and invite parishioners to wear their national costumes on the day.

How much more meaningful our Mass would be if we could have welcomer’s, readers, musicians, ministers, altar servers and collectors from as many different nationalities as possible taking an active part in the Mass.

To do that we need leaders of the different nationalities to come forward to establish contacts, help organise the Mass.

After Mass there will be a shared lunch in the Sion School Hall in Gratwicke Road. Please bring your national dish to share with others. If possible please avoid quiches and sausage rolls!

Please contact Jim or Teresa Corkery (249889), Mary Murphy (772559) or Dennis Key (243914) if you wish to be involved.

This year we will be holding an Easter and Autumn Raffle, as well as Coffee Mornings and other activities, to raise funds for refurbishing the Parish Centre Kitchen.

We would be pleased to receive any unwanted gifts that can be sold or used as prizes , but please, no second hand clothes items.

Items can be left in the Sacristy or picked up if required.

Tel: Jacqueline – 01903-243914 or Kathleen – 01903-249498

Night Shelter

Our weekly collection of tins of food, clothing, blankets etc continues which they are very grateful for, please leave in the Sacristy.

CAFOD

Collection of used stamps & UK & foreign coins for CAFOD. If you have any to spare please could you leave them in the containers outside the Sacristy. CAFOD ask that all stamps be cut or torn from envelopes etc leaving approx 1/4″ of paper around them. CAFOD informed us that the coins we’ve sent them so far has raised £62.50 enough to immunise 125 children.

Uganda Amazing Youth Centre

Please sign the Christmas card from the parish that we will be sending to Uganda, it’s on the table with the display in the Social Area.

More sets of beads made in Uganda to support the project will also be on sale.

Jars of Chutney & other items will be on sale to raise funds for Kangi - a previous parish project in India

Night Shelter

We are still collecting tins of food, clothing, blankets etc. please leave in the Sacristy.

CAFOD collection of used stamps & UK & foreign coins for CAFOD

If you have any to spare please could you leave them in the containers outside the Sacristary.

CAFOD ask that all stamps be cut or torn from envelopes etc leaving approx 1/4″ of paper around them.

For many years Anne Topping has coordinated the Advent and Lent small groups, for which we are most grateful.

She feels she must now hand it on to someone else. ARE YOU THE SOMEONE ELSE!

Please let Fr Chris or Anne know ASAP!

MISSION TO WORTHING 9 th – 18 th June 2012. We desperately need, preferably a couple of people to represent our Church in this Great Inter Church event this year.

PLEASE give thought to whether you could help. Please see Fr Chris.

Parking the car and feeling the warmth of the sunshine on your face. A gentle breeze blows the scent of spring flowers and then as you walk along the subtle sound of voices singing, music playing. You enter the building and the voices grow stronger and you take a seat and listen to the voices singing. You bow your head and close your eyes and pray as you have just arrived for mass and the choir is rehearsing.

This may seem like a distant dream but this could easily be a reality.

We are not looking for a major commitment. We would need around a dozen singers on a regular basis to sing at mass. We are also really looking for musicians as well including a pianist or organist to help lead the music during masses. The only real commitment is to want to sing or play on a regular basis. I know the whole parish will welcome a choir to the church and on special Masses it would add so much to the atmosphere.

Please come and speak to either Val or Andy at any mass.

Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth . . . .

May we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart.

May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving.

Amen.

The Wednesday Word is a national missionary initiative for the 21st Century and provides resources for parish churches, and schools. Each week (on a Wednesday) a short reflection, based on the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday, is released.

The family of Mary Sopp would like to thank all the people who donated to the ‘C.T. Scanner Appeal’ on the day of her funeral, the 30 th of May.

£1034 was collected in the church with the total amount reaching £2550 plus $100 from America.

We know this will make a huge difference to many people in the future and really appreciate all of your generosity.

St Mary’s School Race Night – 9th October.  A BIG THANK YOU to all who supported this event, we raised £1100 for our Church Building Fund.

Our next fund raising event is a Jumble Sale in the school hall on Saturday 20th November at 10.30.

Please be generous and donate your Jumble for this sale.